Johnny & Alex Trail Day - 2019

Event Details

The day begins with registration at Lago Linda's around 9am where you'll receive your t-shirt (if you ordered one), and your lunch from Miguel's! Be sure to bring your own drink and snacks if you want extra. You'll be divided into trail crews by our Land Manager and tackle some of the larger problems on the over 1,000 acres you own! Work begins after a short safety talk and usually lasts until about 2 or 3 in the afternoon. At that time you can either head out climbing or return to Lago Linda's for traditional lake swimming and/or have a go at our giant slip 'n' slide! After an enjoyable afternoon, join us at Linda's for dinner from the Red River Rockhouse, a raffle, and live music.

If you'd like to become a trail leader at this great event, sign up for a Trail Leader Training Class prior to the event.

Every summer, we gather together to take care of the land that we own, creating and maintaining the trails that allow access to some of the best climbing in the world. Then, after the hard work is done we celebrate our work and the climbing community, partying well into the night. We call this day Johnny and Alex Trail Day, and it is a fantastic time. Do you know, though, the story of the two men after whom the event is named? They are pivotal to both the day itself, and the history of climbing in the Red River Gorge.

About Johnny & Alex

John Bronaugh was one of the first volunteers of the Red River Gorge Climbers Coalition, recognizing the need for an organization that would help ensure access to climbing in the Red River Gorge. He was also the driving force behind the PMRP purchase. He climbed and bolted extensively, spending countless hours developing walls and trails. Officially, he got the first ascent of 99 routes; there were dozens more that were never recorded. He also wrote 2 editions of the Red River Gorge Climbs guidebooks.

One of John's climbing partners was his son, Alex. Alex started climbing when he was two years old. In 1993, Johnny and Alex, along with Miguel and Dario Ventura, got the first ascent of the route "Father and Son."

Tragically, John died of a heart attack in August of 2004, and just months later Alex was killed in a car accident. They were an integral part of the Red River Gorge and the climbing community, and while the area and the people who frequent it are better off for them having been here, they are also poorer for their absence. That is why every summer we get together to work on the land they loved, the land we are now tasked with caring for. At Johnny and Alex Trail Day, we come together to honor two people who died too young and left behind an incredible impact on the community. It is a way for people to give back to the area they loved just like Johnny and Alex had done for years, doing so behind the scenes… never asking for recognition.

Project Descriptions: The year of Maintenance!

1. Armoring Under the Shortcut Bridge
Under each bridge there are stones that help armor and protect the shore from eroding. The floods this year washed many of these stones downstream and left our banks vulnerable. This project involves finding and replacing the stones under the bridge on the Shortcut trail in the MFRP. Splash around staying cool in the water while those other suckers, I mean volunteers, toil away in the heat! (10 people)

2. Armoring Under the Miller East Bouncy Bridge
Under each bridge there are stones that help armor and protect the shore from eroding. The floods this year washed many of these stones downstream and left our banks vulnerable. This project involves finding and replacing the stones under the bouncy bridge on Miller East trail in the MFRP. Splash around staying cool in the water while those other suckers, I mean volunteers, toil away in the heat! (10 people)

3. Nursery Belay Bases (stone work)
Enjoy the climbing at the slabs? The erosion is escalating at this beloved location and we are trying to shore up the bases of these climbs with beautiful, more natural looking rock. Help move and set rocks to create belay bases, stairs, and party space! Besides, rock work is sexy!. (heavy lifting) (6 people)

4. White Chocolate bog logs, and malice trails.
In our yearly efforts to spruce up the chocolate factory we are moving up the trail from last year to Malice, adding more bog logs and making things shiny and bright, or angry and vengeful… whichever! (10 people)

5. Grandpa Joe (construction)
Anyone else notice the belay bases at Grandpa Joe slowly melting away? We’ve got the golden ticket to pulling the covers over this raised platform bed. (6 people)

6. Green Team
Want to help but you are super introverted? Would you prefer to walk in the woods with your kids and wear them out? We have some light work for those with tender backs, young ones, or the socially resistant. Trimming trail vegetation back, weed-whipping, and whimsy are all part of the day. Bring your own clippers, shears, loppers, or gas weed whipper and you were made for this job! (12-20 people)

7. A Hole New Wall
Trail cut to new fantastic points of view… No one to tell us no, or where to go (just the flags), or say we’re only dreaming... (you’re not, there’s a new wall opening soon! With your help!) Help us cut some trail to the Hole in the Wall… (20 people)

8. Armoring to Hole in the Wall
Wet and boggy areas make holes in the trail, and we only like the kinds in the walls. Keep this trail from creating huecos of muck by rerouting drainages and creating a high and dry path to the Hole-y Grail of new climbing! (10 people)

9. Comfy Walking to Sore Heel
The shortcut trail from Flat Hollow to Sore Heel has gotten a little run down between regular use and spring flooding. Help us spiffy this beautiful walk up. (10 people)

10. Russian Roulette
If you don’t care what you do, and you don’t care where you do it… leave it up to chance! We will place you where we need you the most! (20 people)

11. Chocolate River Re-route
Continuing the excellent work from last year, the armoring to the center hollow will be extended and drainages added. (10 people)

12. Administration and Trail Leaders
If you are already coordinated to help with set-up, registration, lead a crew, or other boring admin stuff, this is where you sign up! If not, then party on, Wayne… (30 people)